Inshore water temperatures on the north end of the Grand Strand are in the mid-80s, and water clarity is poor.

It’s been a wet one with very cloudy water conditions, but Captain Patrick “Smiley” Kelly (843-361-7445) reports that fishing has still been pretty good in the Little River/ North Myrtle Beach area.

They have been finding a very consistent bite for over-slot redfish in the 30-inch range, and with the warm water fish have gone deeper into channels in the 15-20 foot range. There isn’t a particular tide when you need to be fishing, but there needs to be current moving.

Black drum have been holding in similar areas to the redfish, and Captain Smiley is catching them in the same areas as the redfish – particularly around deeper, rocky bottoms in the Intracoastal. Fishing a ¼ ounce jighead baited with a live shrimp has been working. Shrimp are pretty prolific and catching most species right now.

The trout bite has been pretty good on live shrimp fished under a popping cork a couple of hours before high on the rising tide. Fish have been fairly shallow around oyster beds in creeks off the ICW. Remember that SCDNR is asking anglers to practice catch and release of all spotted seatrout through the end of September. To read the full news release click here.

The pattern for catching flounder has been a little different, and they are having the most success fishing for an hour or two after high tide casting mullet (or shrimp) into creek mouths. The bites usually come as the bait drifts out of the creek mouths and run into oyster beds.

Cherry Grove Pier(843-249-1625) reports that whiting, croaker, and silver perch are fairly common, and they have also caught some nice black drum in the 18 plus inch range. A few blues are being picked up on cut bait, and at night sharks and stingrays are being caught. It has just been too muddy for Spanish and king mackerel.